Syrian forces fired shots at hundreds of protesters who had gathered overnight in Homs city, defying a warning by the authorities to halt what they called an insurrection.

A member of the security police addressed the protesters at Clock Square through a loudspeaker asking them to leave before forces opened fire, according to a human rights campaigner in contact with protesters in the square.

Tear gas was also used. At least one protester was injured, the activist added. Two residents of Homs also reported hearing the sound of gunfire coming from around the square.

Several hours earlier, Syrian state television broadcast an interior ministry statement that described the wave of unrest in Syria as an insurrection, pointing specifically to Homs as one of two cities where “armed groups belonging to Salafist organisations” were trying to terrorise the population.